The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

At this time of year, won't you please think of New Zealand's economy and return to Middle Earth for the first in a trilogy of The Hobbit films, starting with An Unexpected Journey. Flagrantly ripping off Star Wars, Peter Jackson forges a prequel to his previous sword and sorcery Lord of the Rings epics, this time following young hobbit Bilbo Baggins (the always charming Martin Freeman) who joins a company of dwarves set to reclaim their ancestral homeland from bloodthirsty goblins and a greedy dragon. Shockingly, considering the amount of council meetings and battle scenes, everyone seems to be having a lot more fun this go around. Part of that may be J. R. R. Tolkien's more child-oriented story. But having sat through nine hours of Elijah Wood being tired in the previous trilogy, it's pretty refreshing to see Gandalf, Gollum and Elrond finally yucking it up. —Jacob Boon